Camera Framing - Camera framing is basically looking and focusing on everything that is within that shot, and concentrating on its distance from the camera and which angle the shot is taken from.
Camera Movement - This is similar to camera framing in that with the way we move the camera can affect our attention on a certain character or object.
- A panning shot - this is where the camera moves from side to side from a fixed axis
- A tilt shot - this is where the camera moves up and down from a fixed axis
- A crane shot - this is where the camera follows the action taking place, and moves along tracks laid out.
- A rolling shot - this is where the camera moves diagonally, this is quite oftenly used to make the characters come across ill or drugged.
Mise-en-scene
This is a French term that basically means ' what is in the scene or frame'. If you were to take a simple shot of tree, by adding a deathly bird and and shooting in pitch black, there is a clear feeling or atmosphere you are creating. Contrasting to that by having a shot of a tree and having the sunlight shining and little birds on the branches, gives off a very different feeling and mood.
Settings and props - Settings in a film can be used to manipulate the audience by making them have certain expectations and the action that takes place is a complete contrast. Settings can be built from scratch using the plain walls and floor of a studio set, this is sometimes idea for film makers as they can show exactly what they want in this setting, although it does take a great deal of time to create and build. Props is the name given to objects that play a part in the scene. Rather than just being hidden and merging into the background.
Costume, hair and makeup - Costume plays a major part in films. When we see a character we instantly judge their character by the way they look,so it important the character is dressed appropriately and conveys the personality the filmmaker wants to come across. Make-up played a fair part in the early days of cinema and as it was used to highlight people's facial features as generally in black and white films that didn't register much detail.
Facial expressions and body language - When watching a film we look closely at someones facial expressions it can determine what kind of character that are. Facial expressions can usually show a clear thought or feeling towards something, even the look in someone's eyes can tell a lot about them. Body language can show us as an audience a clear relationship between two characters or even someone's personality. If they are huddled up and cover their face we could interpret that as being scared or shy and if they are standing upright, chest out this can show their confidence.
Lighting and colour - Lighting can play a major part in a scene as it can give a realistic look to a scene or even create an atmosphere, show suspicion of a character/object. It's main uses are to; highlight important characters/objects within a scene, making a character appear mysterious or reflecting a characters state of mind. The connotations that each colour has , has an importance to each and every scene its used in. We associate different colours with different moods/feelings and when they are shown in a film, us as an audience automatically suspect mood of the scene.
Positioning of characters and objects within a frame - The positioning of characters can be very important to the shot and can tell the audience alot about the character or create a specific atmosphere or mood. You can choose to place the character in the foreground of the shot and this completley draws your attension to them. Other examples are poisitoning a moving body against a background that appears stationary, or in the background of a shot.
Editing -
- Straight cut
- A fade out
- A dissolve
- A wipe cut
- A jump cut
Diegetic - is sound that comes from a source that is within the film world. For example this could be dialogue between characters or maybe a radio playing some music. It is basically sound that both the audience and characters can all hear.
Non-diegetic - is sound that is not part of the film word. For example this could scary, tension building music that plays over a specific scene within a film. It is sound that only the audience can hear, the characters are completley unaware.
Sound Bridges - is where sound that comes from one scene will continue on to play in the next. It is something that joins two scenes together.
Parellel - is sound that matches the action we see happening on the screen. An example of this is, a scene of children playing at a fairground, the music that accopanies this scene would be children laughing, screaming. Music/sounds that are exciting and match the feel of the scene.
Contrapuntal - is when the music or sound completley contrast with what is happening with the scene. For example having a tension building scene of someone opening a door, and the sound is happy and bright. This completley contrdicts the action happening within the scene.
Off- screen - is sound that we can hear but cannot necessarily see. For example if someone was to walk into the kitchen and put the kettle on, but the camera did not follow them into in the kitchen, then the sound made by the kettle would be off-screen sound.